New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade To Be Broadcast Live On Fox CT

January 14, 2011|Staff Report, The Hartford Courant

New Haven's annual St. Patrick's Day parade will be broadcast live on Fox CT on March 13.

The parade is the largest single-day spectator event in Connecticut. CT1 Media — which includes Fox CT, The Hartford Courant, WCCT-TV, the New Haven Advocate and ctnow.com — is the official "media partner" of the parade.

"Supporting and celebrating legacy community events like this are important to the Fox CT family," said Richard Graziano, who is CT1 Media's CEO, vice president and general manager of Fox CT and WCCT-TV and publisher of The Courant.

The live, two-hour telecast will feature more than 3,000 marchers expected to participate in the parade, including local and state dignitaries and 140 bands and units from across the globe.

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade has been recognized by the Library of Congress as a local legacy because of its long history and its impact on the community. The parade attracts 200,000 to 300,000 spectators along the parade route and generates millions of dollars for local downtown businesses.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, applauded the decision to broadcast the parade.

"I am thrilled that the 55th annual Greater New Haven Saint Patrick's Day Parade will be broadcast live this year," she said. "I have always supported this wonderful celebration of our proud Irish heritage, and looking forward to marching in the parade each year."

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. on March 13 on Chapel Street at Sherman Avenue, led by Grand Marshal Walter Nester. It ends at Grove and Orange streets.